Longlure Frogfish (Antennarius multiocellatus) Care Guide
Antennarius multiocellatus, the longlure frogfish, is the most common western Atlantic frogfish, named for its many eye spots and long lure.
Overview
Antennarius multiocellatus, the longlure frogfish, is a marine fish of the family Antennariidae described by Valenciennes in 1837. FishBase calls it the most common frogfish in the West Indies. It has a short, globular body with thick, wart-textured skin and many eye-like markings; the species epithet multiocellatus means many eyespots.
Taxonomy
- Family: Antennariidae
- Genus: Antennarius
- Scientific name: Antennarius multiocellatus (Valenciennes, 1837)
Habitat
FishBase records the species in the western Atlantic (Bermuda, Florida Keys, Gulf of Mexico, Bahamas, the Greater and Lesser Antilles and the Caribbean) and the eastern Atlantic (Ascension Island). It occurs on shallow reefs, commonly in sponge-rich areas where its coloration provides camouflage. Reported depths range from 0 to 66 m, with a preferred temperature near 27-28 °C.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 250 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- GH: 8-12 °dGH
- Adult size: 12-18 cm (FishBase reports a maximum of 20 cm TL)
- Lifespan: 5-20 years
Diet
The longlure frogfish is a carnivore. FishBase reports that it feeds mainly on fishes but also takes crustaceans, and Wikipedia adds crabs and mantis shrimp. It is an ambush predator with an illicium roughly twice the length of the second dorsal spine; it can swallow prey larger than itself and strike in a few thousandths of a second. In aquaria it is typically fed live or thawed meaty foods such as silversides.
Compatibility
This is a solitary, bottom-dwelling species best kept alone or only with conspecifics of similar size. Smaller fish and ornamental shrimp would be eaten and should be avoided.
Breeding
The species is oviparous. FishBase describes eggs bound in gelatinous mucus called an egg raft or veil. Wikipedia notes that pairs move along the bottom before rising to the surface to release eggs.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2013), as reported by FishBase.